Garment or ironing press



. 'Sept 1, 1936. W, B R|CE GARMENT 0R IRONING PRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17, 1930 Sept. l, 1936. w B RICE l. 2,052,724

' l GARMENT 0R IRoNING PREss Filed July 17, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 Il; l

INVENTOR A ToRNEYs Patented Sept. l, 1936 NITED STATES .PATENT oFFlCE mesne assignments,to The American' Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, acorporatio'n of Ghio ynppliitfuni July 1.7, 1930,`seria1 No. 468,487 fromme. (crea-40) This invention relates to presses, more 'es- Apecially to fluid-motor operated garment or iron- -ing presses, and to motor means for operating the press, including a two-hand control safety 5 means to protect the operator by compelling' him to use both hands until the coacting pressY jaws are entirely closed on the work, or untilthe press -headis closed on the buck.

It is an object to produce a press which, during closing movement, will immediately stop its closing motion if leither or --both hands be removed from the two control lbuttons or manuals but rvwhich, once its closing movement is completed, will remain closed by reason of fluid `pressure until released and the press is opened Vby the voperator who releases the pressure-from -the motor means.

It is a further object to 'produce a power ironing Vor l garment pressV operated byV fluid-'pressure l motor means having a non-locking or a nonstraightening toggle-'or other operating or motion-transmitting means between the motor and -press head which holds the press jaws in closed position by iuid pressure such as air or the like,

/25 so thati'cushioned or resilient jaw compression Von the work is maintained with full force until it is manually released at the'will of the operator, whereupon the non-locking motion-transmitting means returns o-r opens to lift the press head.

30 Another object is to provide motor means havinga motive-fluid supply system including a plulrality of pressure feed lines which are governed -bya two-hand control to actuate a motor means to close a press or actuate other machinery.

I It is a further object to provide auidpres sure motor means having a piston which is held to the limit of its power stroke or travelby uid pressure maintained against the piston by reason of a huid-pressure line being maintained 40 open by novel means rendered eective only' approximately at the end of the power stroke Vof the motor means so that the air pressure supply line is open to the cylinder during the full period of jaw compression, and hence the pistonis i455 maintained under pressure by a column of l'uid pressure derived from the source of air pressure `or the like, as for example the air compressor and storage tank.

The pressing machine constituting this inven- 50 tion includes a normally-closed intake valve `adapted toA be opened manually throughvsafety means to start the motor and hence may be called a motor-starting valve, and an automatic or motor-driven normally-closed valve to main- 155 ltain the motor in its operated or pressing-position 'andhence may be called a motor-control valve. 'Thestarting intake'va'lve will not function unless manually held open by both hands until the press ahead' closes andthe control valve will not func- 'tion'to take over the' control of the press until 5 the press; head fully closes.

Intheffoperation of ironing presses, the press head or upper jaw is caused to exert heavy pres- :sures against the'work laid upon the buck or Flower. vjaw andI high temperatures are employed 4to 'heat the large-size press jaws. It is essential therefore inorder' toremove all possibility of an operators-hand being caughtv between the press -head'land' thebuck,I that-some means such as'a -two-hand control 'be provided to control the l5 closingfofthe; press. Thereis disclosed herein -limprovements' in two-hand control motor-driven ironingl presses for that purpose.

The accompanying drawings show an eX- ample of construction coming within the prin- Q20 ciple 'of the invention, and other equivalent forms andyariations in construction may be employed without departing from the invention.

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of 'an ironing press in openposition--and parts of the machine are 1125 #shown in" section.

Figure "2 isa cross section through an automaticlorimotoredriven or actuated control valve wand it is shown *in open-press position, the

arrows showing the i-luid pressure exhausting y 4from the vmotor means :land Figure 3 shows the sameV valve in closedi-press position with the arrows indicatingthe now of fluid pressure, air or steam, tothe motor means to close the press and -hold it to closed"position. @35

Figure is" a rview,v partially diagrammatic, of f the two-hand control valve means in closed-press p'osition. This 'view shows the motor-driven valveat the right and the two-hand control 4valvelatthe left with tube connections therebe- 40 tween. 'Thisvie'wfis taken in part on the line A-vll'oiFigure, andshows one button I4 of the twohandcontrol assembly, as Well as exhaust or release button i6' to' open the press.

Figure 5 isfa front View of the two-hand con- 45 Vtrol assembly mounted on the tabe lof the Hgarment' or'ironingpress'as l developed along the -lineYE-Elof Figure-4,l and shows the spaced twohand control buttonsprmanualsv Hl and l5, the 'release buttonf lBlto open the press being *hidden 50 -irom viewbehind the button i4.

The numeral l 'designates a' press frame suprportingaf'buckor 'lower Apress jaw 2 and mountfing aS-press lever-3 pivoted at d. The press lever 3 carries a pressv head or upper jaw- 5 adapt- 55 ed to coact against the buck 2. The press lever 3 is actuated by jaw-operating means or mechanism as illustrated in the drawings or any other suitable means, as for example, a fluid-pressure motor comprising a cylinder 63 in which a piston or connecting rod 6 is connected to a bell crank lever I having an arm 8 connected to the rear end of the press lever 3by a :link Ill." The arm 8 and link I0 thus form a non=straighten ing toggle 8-I8 by means of which the press head 5 may be swung up and down in relation-f3: to the buck 2 which opens and; closes thenpressv and produces jaw compression on the work to be ironed or pressed; and a spring Vla opens the Vpress after air pressure is exhaustedfrom the motor, inasmuch as the toggle 8'-"|0 is propor- Y timed, adjusted and set against locking or over- Straightening. 1

The motor 68 is operated by .compressed-. air or other iluid pressure under the joint control of a manually two-hand operated valve |2=and;an automatically operated motor-control; valve "I3 which arecOnStruCtedf-in accordance'wth the principles Yoi this invention, whereas any suitable iluid motor means and motion-transmitting or jaw-operating meansS-IQ from the motor to one or the otherlotthe press jaws, may be used. f

, TheA manual twohand .Valve I2 is under the control of two spaced control buttons or manuals |4 and I5'ior directing. air pressure to the cylin- Ader 66 for closing the press,- andone-release button I6 forexhausting the'air for opening the press is Aprovided- The control `buttons. .l4 and I5 are connected to a valve stem vI'I- by means of a -pair of links I8 and I3 which in:v effect.,v constitute .a small togglevr joint.A

The button I5 operates a bell crank lever 20 ypivoted on the frame y I and this bell chrankconnects to one end of a cross link 22 exertinggazside,thrust or bracing effect upon a pivotjortoggle, knee 23'which connects the two links I8 and I9 attached to the first button I4.

The proportions ofr the toggle links I8 and I9 aresuchthat they are normally held at'such an angle to each other for open-pressposition that if the rbutton, Malone is pressed, the toggle I 8-I 9 will bendor collapse further without operating or vdepressing the valve stem I1..` Likewise if thel button I5 alone be pressed, the links I 8 and Iwill be somewhat straightened but withoutoperating or depressing the, valve stem I1,

because button I4 will yield upwardly. Y As soon,

however, as the button |14 is depressed after pressing the button I5,-.V or by simultaneously pressing both buttons I4 and I5, the valve stem I'I will be pushed downwardly byreason of the fact that the side link 22wil11 have almost straightened the links I Sand I9 into alignment and the link 22 will exert a lateral thrustupon vthe pivot 23 which will prevent the breaking of `the toggle I8-I9 so the latter will thrust downwardly on the valve stem I'I extending into the f valve housing I2 underinfluence ofthe button I4.

. 25 working in a valve chamber 26 and also another valve head 2l working in a valve cham- Attached to the Valve stem I I is a valve head ber 28. The valve Achambers 25 and 28 are connected by a passageway 29d with which a pipe communicates', while another pipe, an exhaust pipe 3|, opens the chamber 26' to exhaust to atmosphere; anda passageway' 32 connects the chamber 28 with an inlet source of motive uid or compressedair supply 33 from a compressor or supply tank,i not shown.. r

-compressed air supply line 33. `performs g functions similar to the other spring scribed, 'and it comprises a housing which a cylindrical valve core 39 turns, the latter having a segmental port or passage 40. A rotary- The passageway 29 is provided with a valve seat 34 at its upper end against which the valve head 25 seats to close olii communication between the passage 29 and the valve chamber 26V and hence close communication between pipes 5 3 and 3|. A similar seat 35 is adapted to cooperate with or be closed by the valve head 21 when the valve head 25 is open or oi 'of its seat 34.` A spring 36 bearing 'upwardly against one A,of the valves urges the valve head 2l to its upper l0 rornormally closed position and urges the valve 2.5 yto its upper Aor normally open position affording communication between the pipe 38 and the 'exhaust pipe 3| which is the position of these "parts-when the press is open. 15

The spring 36 therefore normally holds the valve 25 open and the valve 2l closed, i. e., the

, spring causes the valves to return to their normal open-press positions whenever. the Valves are free to move or not held by the operator. As 20 soon, however; as the Valve stem Il is depressed, theivalve head 25 closes the exhaust 3| by comingin contact with the upper seat 34 and at the .same time the valve Z'i unseats from the valve `seat 35' andv permits compressed air to be ad- 25 mitted from the pressure supply pipe 33 through thechamber 2 8 to the pipe 3|), thus connecting the feed or power pipe line 33 to pipe 3, and

then to the motor cylinder as will be explained.

Another or release valve steml II'I also extends l30 into the Valve housing I2 and affords an operat- :ng connection betweenv theV release or presslopening button I5 and a pair of valves |25 and |2'Il disposedin valve chambers |28 and |28 which may be similar in all respects to the correspond- 35 ing valve parts 25, 26, 2l and 28 heretofore explained, save that the chamber |28 communi- `catesthrough an exhaust 3Ia to atmosphere while the chamber |26 communicates with the A spring |3640 36 forthis setofyalves |25 and vI2'I normally ,holding theyalve I 25 open and the valve |21 closed so that `through these valves a conduit |30 is normally connected with the compressedf45 airline 33 through the Valve chamber |26 but is connected to the exhaust 3Ia only when the butv-ton I6 is depressed; and this is the position of these parts ,when the press is open.

A motor-control mechanism I3 will now be de- :i 50

I3 within type valve is shown but any suitable valve may 4be used. Through the casing I3 are ythree ports-2255 4I, 42 and 43. The outside ports 4| and 43 con- The bell crank cylinder 66 and open the press by the spring .or weight means 7a.

The link 45a maybe formed with aslot 41,'70

-which engages-a pin` 4G anchored to the toggle link IQ. Ylhewslcitl allows the press head 5 and motor to travel toward closed-press position with .link 45a idling', while theoperator holds down thetwo manuals I4 andvI5.` As the press head75 closes, fthe pin 46 reaches the Vother -or inner end of the slot 41 and actuates the valve core 39 by Aaction of the leverage mechanism .8-I to swing -thevalve `core 39 clockwise to cause the port 49 to connect the conduit '|30 with the pipe '4211. -This final action of the control valve I3 -serves to keep the cylinder 66 connected with the pressure supplyr'pipe 33 after the operator releases the buttons and -to maintain the press Vclosed by air pressure.

the use and operation of the press, the valve stem Il depressed by both buttons I4 and I5 to ope-n 'the motor-starting or normally-closed intake valve Y2?1, and it follows that compressed air vis vadmitted from 4feed pipe 33 to the iirst air feed pipe 30 which is at that time in communication `with the cylinder S66 through the port 40 Aof the valve FII3 and flexible conduit 42a. Should, .how-ever, the operator now release one of the bu't'tons 4Ill .or I5 before the press jaw closing operation is complete, thus permitting the valve stem I'| to be `snapped or return to up or closed position, the motor ycylinder 66 is immediately connected with vthe exhaustlI and the press .is opened 'by a spring la or other means for the .same purpose .because the motive fluid no longer flows to the cylinder.

If, however, the 'Valve' stem II is maintained depressed until the press head 5 is completely closed upon the work and .buck 2, then the nal clos-ing movement Aof the toggle -I 0 reverses the valve :I3 placing the cylinder 66 in communication with the compressed air line 33 through the vother or final feed line |30 'and the chamber 1F26. The press ,head thereupon stays closed against the spring .'Ia because air pressure is maintained against the piston in the motor cylinder 65 despite the fact that the operator releases .both buttons I4 and I5. Hence a column of Vmotive iluid pressure is constantly applied to the motor 65 from feed lines 30 and |30 to keep the press closed through the non-straightening toggle 8-10 as shown indiagrammatic dotted line pisition'in Figure l where the knee or knuckle of the toggle does not reach center or straight line position withv the upper and lower toggle pivots.

When it is desired to open the press, the release button I3 is depressed and the conduit |30 is thereby connected with the exhaust 3Ia, Figure 4, which removes the pressure on the motor piston so that the spring 1a returns the press head to its open or up position. VThe spring 50 attaohed to arm 45 swings the valve 39 to exhaust yor open-press position. The spring is not essential since as the press reaches its open position the pin 1.56 in .theltoggle link I0 will engage the link 45a to throw the valve 1,3 in open press position, Figure 2, and maintain the cylinder 66 open to :atmosphere and exhaust by affording communication between the cylinder and the conduit 30 and hence to the exhaust port or pipe 3|, and the motor is closed off from the air-pressure line 33.

The two iiuid pressurel feed or supply pipes 30 and I 30 are in effect interposed between the single feed or supply lines 33 and 42a, the valve housing I2 being interconnected between the fluid pressure source pipe 33 for starting the motor, While the automatic or motor-control valve I3 is placed between the motor pipe 42a and the pair of feed or supply lines 30 and |30 to supply air to the motor at the end of the piston stroke. The valve I3 switches or changes the connection from pipe 30 over to |30 whereby pipe 42al may -still-draw pressure from the .source pipe 33 after vthe `combination yalves and 2`| are sprung or snapped'nto closed position by spring means 36 when the :operator releases the buttons I4 and l5.

If desired, a spring -50 may be employed to rethe control-valve core 39 to open-press position as soon as the toggle A8--I0 has moved or broke-n su'fiiciently tothe right to release the pressure from between the press jaws so `that only -a momentary depression of the button I6 is now necessary to cause the press to rapidly open all `the way. The spring 50 keeps the valve `core 39 to its full limited open-press position.

The motor-control valve iirst lreceives air from pipe and then lpipe |30 and in both instances directs the air through one pipe 42ay to the motor 'cylinder 66. The motor piston is actuated through its complete stroke by air from pipe 30 going through valve 13 and its passage 40, butv as soon as the press head is actually down on the buck so close that the operator cannot get his hands between the jaws, then the valve lever l5 automatically shifts the valve core 39 to closedpress position with the result that air is then delivered to the piston 'from pipe |30. It now matters not that the operator releases one vor both control buttons I4 and I5 and tha-t spring 36 closes inlet valve 2T upwardly against its seat to open exhaust valve 25 upwardly on" its seat 34 because the control valve I3 is now in position to divert air pressure from feed pipe 33 to motor cylinder 66 quite independently of the two handcontrol buttons and related val-ve means I2.

vrIhis ironing press is safe in'operation and lls l a need felt for improvements in this connection and rapidly irons the work. The press head is rapidly closed by the jaw-operating means and is opened by the spring opening means la. The motor-control valve I3 takes over the control of the press from vthe operator 'and this valve I3 is effectively actuated by the lost-motion means VIlI---lll which connects the valve to the jawhousing I2. Two pipes 30 and |30 lead from this l valve housing I2 to the motor-control valve I3 and, from the latter valve I3, a single pipe, usually a flexible connection 42a, transmits the motive iiuid to the cylinder 66.

The pipe 30 iirst transmits the starting pressure to the motor 66 and continues to do so as long as the operator holds open the normallyclosed intake valve 2l and holds closed the normally-open exhaust Valve 25 carried on the common valve stem I l, and during this cycle of operation pressure is in the pipe |30 but is shut olf at valve I3 from cylinder 66. Thereafter the lost-motion operating connection 46-41 rotates Valve I3 whereupon its passage 40 opens pipe |30 to the motor to hold the piston down or to actuated position to hold the press jaws closed under resilient and yieldable compression without the aid of noisy opening mechanically locked joints or catches.

The release or press-opening valve unit I25-I2'I is positively held to normal position by a stiif spring |36 against the pressure on exhaust Valve head |21. That spring maintains the intake valve head |25 .open and the release or exhaust valve head |21 closed. YHencethis pressopening means also comprises two valve heads on a common stem I|1 and the actuating button I6 is merelya simple orA diagrammatic showing of manual means to thrust the stem II1 against the force of the heavy spring |36. Any suitable means toy reduce the manual effort required by operator to unseat exhaust vvalve head |21 and seat intake valve -head |25 may be used in connection with the valvev stem ||1 to cause the press to open. l

Within the single valve housing I2 is contained the motor-starting valve means 25-21, the intake 21 of which is normally closed at oneV end of the housing against entry of pressure from supply pipe 33, while in the same housing IZ there is similarly, though reversely provided, -the pressopening valve means I25-I21, the intake |21 of which is normally open at the other end of the housing to open the pipee` to the pipe |30. The central passage V32 communicates with both sides of the housing to transmit pressure to both Valve units carried by the two stems I1 and III.

The single housing I2 likewise has two exhaust ports 3| and Slaboth of which function to open the press. Ordinarily the housing I2 has its two exhaust ports opening directly to atmosphere and there is usually no'necessity for piping either the exhaust 3| or Sla to the outside of the room or plant in which the pressis operating. The exhaust 3| serves to instantly open the cylinder to atmosphere and arrest the closing motion of the press head in event ythe operator should release either two-hand button I or I5 before the lost-motion or motor-controlled valve I3 takes over the control of the press. fr

On the other hand the exhaust port 3m is for releasing the pressure from the cylinder 66 after the press head has entirely closed down upon the work. The exhaust 3|, therefore, releases the pressure from pipe 38 whichV was active in the cylinder 65 to initiate the piston or press closing stroke, and the other exhaust Sla releases that pressure from pipe I 3? which was standing in the cylinder to hold the press closed.

What is claimed is: v

l. In a garment or ironing press, coacting press jaws, operating means including a fluid motor connected to one of the jaws for closing the press, a plurality of `duid pressure lines tov operate said motor, each of said fluid pressure lines including a manual control valve, one of said valves being normally open and the other normally closed, a single valve means connected to both fluid pressure lines and positioned in the line between the manual controls and the motor, and means operated by the press for actuating the single valve to first operate the motor from one pressure feed line and thenv holdit in closed po- `sition by Luse Vof fluid pressure from the other pressure feed line.

`jaws and operating means thereforincluding a fluid motorconnected toa jaw, a plurality of fluid pressure feed lines, an automatic valve to which the plurality of feed lines are connected and a single fluid connection ,from the valve ,to the motor, a single valve housing to which the feed lines are connected, a single fluid source line connected with `the f valve housing, normally closed inlet valve means in the housing to admit fluid from `the source line to one feed line, exhaust valve means in the Valve housing to exhaust fluid pressure from another of the feed lines to exhaust fluid pressure from the motora twohand control button means` operatively connected with the inlet valve, a single button means connected with the exhaust valve, and an operating connection provided between the automatic valve and operating means to direct fluid pressure to the motor thru said inlet Valve line to initially operate the motor and thereafter thruanother line to hold the motor tov operated position.

3. A garment or ironing press comprisingr Coactring press jaws, uid-motor means connected to one jaw to operate the press, a valve operatively connected to ,the vmotor means, .a single .fluid passage being provided from the valve to the motor means, twopressure feed lines connected to the valve, wherebyoperation of the motor means actuates the valve to switch one feed line into communication with the single fluid passage and switch the other feed line out of communication withfthe passage, a motor-starting valve in the feed line which is connected to the motor rwhen the press is open, and a pressi-opening valve in the other feed line. Y

4. A garment or ironing press comprising coacting press jaws including a head and bucku jaw-operating means including a fluid-pressure motor having a vcylinder and piston operatively connected to the pf'ess head, two pressure feed lines, a motor-starting valve connected to one of the feed lines, manual means for actuating the valve, a motor-control valve connectedY to the two feed lines and positioned between the motorstarting valve and the motorin thek feed line having the valve, said motor control valve being normally open in the feed line having the .motor-starting valve and closed to the other .feed line, an automatic operating connection between the motor-control valve' and the jaw-operating vmeans to actuate the valve to close the motorstarting Valve feed line andopen the otherfeed line, and a, singlepressure feed line from the motor-control valve to thecylindenfwhereby the motor is started by pressure admitted by the motor-starting valve and is thereafter'supplied by pressure admitted by the motor-control valve.

WILLIS e. Rioni 

